Salesforce Administrators learn to remind users: “Search before you create a new lead.” Pretty simple, right? Duplicated records are a pain. Then why do I see some very accomplished Salesforce users in the Dreamforce app posting duplicate Content/Files in Chatter? Here are some examples from the Files tab: The better thing to do – assuming that you need to post the same file multiple times (this should be rare, as it might be considered Chatter Spamming, but when referring multiple users or groups to a document, it can come in handy) is to upload the file ONCE and use references to it in subsequent feed posts. This has a bonus: Better maintenance! Instead of other users not knowing which file to follow if they want to be notified anytime that file is updated, just ensure that there is only ONE copy in the org, and everyone can follow that. This […]

In the first installment of post-Dreamforce projects, I present a mechanism to present the user with all available Lookup options in a picklist. This should simplify some Visualforce pages. (Credit to the Developers Guide from the new post-Dreamforce Library.) The key to the code is the ability to customize the SOQL statement to focus as much, or as little, as the developer would like. Though the code I provide makes no limit on the number of records returned, I encourage developers to limit the select statement as seen fit. VF Page: Extension: Note the SOQL query in Line 12 (below) that defines which records are included in the picklist. You can include WHERE and LIMIT statements to get the picklist down to a manageable number of items. Because the parents List in the extension sends an ID to the application, it can successfully create a record with the parent Name […]

Please be sure to register for sessions at Dreamforce. And DEFINITELY don’t miss my session! Wrangle Data & Pump up the Configuration “I’m administering Salesforce. I’ve learned the ropes. Now I want to get great!” In this session, we’ll review the latest insights and subtlties that top Salesforce consultants have learned on the front lines. We’ll focus on data and configuration to help cut the time you spend massaging data. You’ll also learn how to implement tricky config quirks you never thought possible. Speaker: Ezra Kenigsberg, SALESFORCE.COM Speaker: David Schach, X-Squared On Demand LLC Date: Monday, November 3 Time: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. I’m on the Administrator track – we’ll be providing tips for configuring your org implementation and optimizations, and for ensuring that things remain smooth as you move forward as a Super Administrator.

I realized a while ago that Dreamforce would be on Election Day. Somehow it took a while to register (no pun intended) that I needed to fill in an absentee ballot. But where to get one? Thankfully, there is a website devoted to absentee ballots, http://www.longdistancevoter.org/. Please go to this site and do what is necessary to fulfill your civic duty. If you want to vote early, which is slightly different, Reed College has a super website on early voting (updated regularly) with information on each state’s policies. And if I may, I’ll get on my soapbox now: I was born in South Africa, a country where specific groups of people were not only denied the right to vote, but were denied the right to live in certain areas and pretty much every other right that we have in this country. I became a citizen at age 12 and promised […]